My 55th diary. June and Vern gave me this diary for Christmas. It is like the one they gave me last year. Very cold overnight. A minus -20° snowed during day. I called Jolie and Zack to who them Happy Anniversary. They went out last night. Michael Kennedy 39, killed in skiing accident yesterday.

Cloudy. Warmer in morning. Merrill’s day care closed today. I called transportation. Vern called. They are coming tomorrow. He is going to do paper work for me. I called Office of the Aging to see about a lawyer. They named three. Front porch storm door glass fell out and broke 3 panes of glass. We got county tax notice. $386. Up $16 dollars this year. I washed 2 tubs of clothes. Tina S called. Se will be here next Thursday. Housekeeper Tuesday.

A dark cloudy day. Warmer. Our snow about gone. Vern and June here for lunch. Vern put 3 glass in front door that got broken when it fell out. Vern filled out Heap and Tax refund applications. I called Barbara D about Star Tax form. We don’t have to file. Vern is going to make appointment with lawyer. We will see him before we make out Samaritan Keep application. Vern called Dr. Norton. She doesn’t come to Lowville anymore and she isn’t taking new patients except laser patients. I will go with Dr. Sanni February 10th.

Cold. No sun. We didn’t go to church. Merrill didn’t want to go. He slept in his chair all night. He has had a bad day. He’s very upset about doors being locked. I called Lyla. Her car is giving her trouble. I called Jolie. She had so many calls she called me back. Zack is calling her at 6 PM tonight or she and Shawn Michael would be out.

Everything covered with ice in morning. I called Merrill’s prescription to Charthouse. Merrill didn’t go to day care. Transportation called and said there was none today. Most schools closed. Watertown school and north. Ken went into hospital at 8:30. Discharged at 12. Ken had his hernia operation in Syracuse. He and Esther called in evening. Vern called in PM. He made appointment for Wednesday at 2 PM with lawyer Gebo. We took down Christmas tree and decorations. Dick Dellis returned my call about Star taxes. We sent Heap and Tax application also checks to Robbins and Cable. Sonny Bono 62, killed in skiing accident.

50° this morning. Very rainy and foggy all day. Tina and Kathy. They didn’t come because of weather. St Lawrence County very icy. Ken’s 78th birthday. It has been so dark all day. I didn’t get Christmas decorations put away. I called Jim at work. He is going to meet us at the lawyers tomorrow. Singer John Gary (Strader) died of cancer at age 65. He is related to Grandma Rowens Strader Haggerty. He dies last Sunday.

Merrill went to day care fist time since Monday December 29th. Vern and I brought him home with us. Appointment with lawyer Mark Gebo, city at 2 PM. Jim, Vernon and I met with Mr. Gebo. We found out about things and I feel much better about what can be done. We go back next week Thursday at 10 AM, with Merrill, to sign papers etc. Vern here for lunch. He took me to store for groceries before we went to city. He brought us home and left for Oswego about 4 PM. I hope he didn’t have any icy roads.

Raining and freezing in evening. The ice storm hit during night. Power went out about 1:30 AM. Jim and Jolie called several times. Jim says city a mess. Sackets got hit bad. Trees fell on Jim’s white truck and the Explorer van. Linda came over to see if we needed anything. She made us coffee. Also hot soup. She and Dick brought over a kerosene heater. We had comfortable night. Our phone went out about 6 PM.

More of the same weather plus thunder and lightning. Brian Shorkey stopped in to check on us. Clark and Vi asked him to from Florida. Darcie asked Linda to check on us also when she called from Florida. Linda and Rick brought fuel at 6:00 AM. She came later with a hot casserole. Rick has gone looking for fuel. Brian Powell, across the street came asking to use phone. I told them to come over and stay. Vanessa and her parakeet came over. Her sons went other places. We enjoyed her visit so much. She and I talked until 12:45 AM. 5 PM curfew each night until 7 AM.

A nice sunny day. Some snow in PM. Rick got more kerosene for us. Linda came over for coffee. Vanessa went across to her house. Her relatives came so she went home with them. Sue and Heather here. Jolie called them. June and Vern want us to go to Oswego. They are getting bad snowstorm. Jolie and Shawn Michael came also. They may be back. I put rest of food from freezer outside. 10,000 power poles down. Sue brought us milk. Our phone out but others on this road are on. Linda and Sue bring their cell phones.

Snowy. Colder. We had a good night. Both slept good. I’m afraid Merrill is getting a cold. I can’ find my digital thermometer. Sue B and girls here. Linda and Rick in and out. Vern came with flashlights, batteries, and supplies of all kinds. He wanted us to go home with him. Rick is getting a large generator from Fort Drum to get us power. He got back after dark but he hooked up kitchen counter light. He may have to go into work tomorrow. Linda brought over delicious hot turkey supper. She called Dr. Mike. He was in Philadelphia. Merrill has a cold. He can take non-aspirin pills. He has no fever. Workmen (power) here from Hawaii. I hope they don’t freeze. Crews here from all over.

Sunny. Very cold. Rick had to go into work today. Linda brought over coffee. Jolie and Shawn Michael came over. Sue Boschock stopped in. Linda here off and on. Linda brought us roast beef sandwich, French fries. and homemade vegetable soup from Philadelphia restaurant. It is a Red Cross Center. I finally got to talk with Jim on Sue’s cell phone. Haven’t talked with him since last Wednesday. He is working 12 hour shifts every day. I swept floor with broom. Straightened up house. Gov. Pataki in Watertown for 2nd time. Radio station magic 103 is doing a great job keeping folks informed and helping them out. Linda changed power strip to light over stove, microwave, coffee pot, and toaster. Etc.

Windy, raining and snowy. Terrible weather. Merrill wouldn’t settle down until almost morning. I didn’t even get undressed. Tina here to see Merrill. His legs are swollen. He needs new Teds. Sue and Heather here. She’s going into city so will get pills and Teds. The nurse and I talked with Dr. Mike. Linda was over and she planned to call for me. 1192 crews here helping out. Over 3800 people have come to help. Sue got Merrill’s pills. Bolton’s had to order his Teds. Rick and Linda ran another cable over here to living room. We have lights and TV. Great!!!. Vern’s called Linda. He cancelled Lawyer appointment. He and June leave Thursday for West Virginia to meet Lydia Grace. Power Co worked about all day setting poles on corner.

Cold all day. Sunny. Cold last night. Our coldest night in house but not that bad. I brought down Electric heater from upstairs. Rick and Linda here. Also Sue. Linda brought 7 days mail from Post Office. Rev. Elaine here. Good to hear about folks. She is staying at Huntress’s. Got letter from Clark and Vivian from Florida. All schools still closed. State of emergency still on. Closed until Tuesday. Two women from fireman’s aux here to check on us. Agway brought 184.4 gallon of fuel oil. 175.65 before cash discount. Linda brought our supper from Philadelphia Restaurant shelter. Gap stores in Midwest sending supplies. (Gap store in mall) Curfew still on tonight. HEAT!! Linda and Rick hooked up furnace tonight. Sure feels good. Can use only 110 and amps at once. Joe took heater down to Philadelphia Restaurant. I hope it helps them as much as it did us.

Very cold stormy all day. It’s good to have a warm house. Rick said I could use frig so I cleaned it and put stuff back in it. Linda went to Seaway for drugs for her mother. She will get us groceries. Rick cut up limbs in driveway and plowed driveway. Tina, county nurse here in storm. Merrill better than Tuesday. He is very mixed up today. I had to keep door locked all day. Linda got us groceries at Seaway and Amish store. She brought over delicious supper. Scalloped potatoes with ham, green beans, bread, strawberry short cake. Linda took our white clothes home to launder. Linda brought over lasagna tossed salad and brown bread for supper. Good. Merrill loved it also. Curfew changed to 10 PM to 7 AM.

Sun out in PM Beautiful. We got a foot of snow last night. Our power cut out so I tied a scarf to door for Rick to see. He came and got us going again. More fun. I washed my hair after at least 2 weeks. Heated the water on register in my aluminum percolator. Works good. The shelters are still full of folks. Showers are available in some places. Merrill took a sponge bath, shaved and got into clean clothes. Then we went outside and shoveled some snow. His 1st time outside in several days. Kathy Hicks here in PM to check on us. No work. 42 of the 44 main poles down between Calcium and Antwerp. Indian River section will be 2 weeks before we get power.

20° cloudy. I wrote Clark and Vivian in Florida. Rick was over to get power going. Cut out at 7 AM as I was getting up. Jolie here in PM. Shawn Michael at Lowlers. Jim came in PM for a while. They made him take today off. First time off since storm started. He works tomorrow. He got a generator from Sackets Fireman. I can see some light over town. They have a large generator at Power Plant. A band aid fix. Heather came to say there is church tomorrow. She will call Huntress’s.

Another beautiful morning. Trees covered with snow again today. We went to church. Wayne and Nancy came after us. We had 31 out to church. Merrill up most of night. He took screws out of door chain again. Said he was going home. He didn’t settle down until 5 AM. We got up at 7 AM. Audrey Keric almost lost her life in her cold house. She finally went to Bob Griffins. She is in Carthage hospital. I still have my cold. Have scratchy throat. Lots of folks being treated form carbon monoxide fumes. Our generator is over by Linda’s garage. Linda and Joe cut up some of our limbs. Merrill says garage wires are on ground. Rick worked at Fort Drum today. We put some of food off porch in refrigerator freezer. Merrill discovered our wires are off garage and lying in ice on ground.

Cloudy temperature about the same. We had a cold night as our generator cut out about 12:30 AM. Linda got us going about 8 AM. It was warm in bed. Vern and June came at lunchtime. They brought it with them. They had a good trip to West Virginia. Lydia Grace looks like Dan. Jolie, Shawn Michael and neighbor boy here. She came after my prescriptions. She says Joel is in Arizona. Linda called Robbins to check our blower motor. He will be here tomorrow. Don Myers died yesterday. Vern filled out admittance papers to Samaritan Keep to have ready in case we need it.

Nice day. A lot of schools opening today. Indian River closed all week. Tina here. She made calls to day care and transportation. Linda was over. We had great time keeping furnace going. We started getting meals from the Office of the Aging again. Dick Graves brought them. Linda brought beef stew with dumplings. Tasted so good. We will gain weight. She brought apples and oranges from Red Cross. Merrill took sponge bath, shaved and I washed his hair. He put on all clean clothes. Tony from Robbins didn’t come.

Sunny. Merrill went to day care for first time since January 7th. The day the sleet storm started. It is 2 weeks since storm started. Hard to believe. Everyone has been so good to us and taken such good care of us. ¾ of folks have power back as of this morning. It was good to have a day all to myself. Linda was here. Vern called her. We have an appointment Monday with Mr. Gebo at 10 AM and Samaritan Keep at 1 PM. Jim said Joel isn’t in Arizona. Not yet anyway. He was kidding with Jolie.

Very sunny all day. Cold north wind. Tony from Robbins here. Couldn’t find trouble with our furnace. Could be the generator itself. Jolie and Shawn Michael here. Brought my medicine. Linda was over. I’m going to go over to her house to shower tomorrow. There was an excellent show on TV this evening on “Ice Storm 98”. Some of damage hard to believe. 13,000 crews working on repairs. 100 million dollars to repair. It happened or started 2 weeks ago now and we still have no electricity or phone but every one has been so helpful. Linda Belile, Joe Belile and Rick Slate have been so wonderful.

Sunny, storm day. Our generator power lasted until 4:30 before flipping off. Merrill got ready for day care but they didn’t come for him. I washed a tub of white clothes and dried them on bars. 87% of power restored this morning. A terrible day to be working outside. Bell Atlantic repaired our phone line about 11:30. Vern called shortly afterwards. It has been out since January 8th (over two weeks). I’ve had called from Jim, Jolie, Telephone company, County nurse association and I talked with Bonnie at day care and transportation. Jolie called at suppertime. She was having pain and was going to emergency. She called back about 10 PM. She has an infection in her ovaries. Merrill very up tight tonight. Wants to go home.

Warmer and hazy some fog. Power company working on our street. Merrill had terrible night. He kept trying to get outside to go home. I was up until 5 AM trying everything I could think of to calm him. I feel so very helpless when nothing gets through to him. He tipped over my beautiful floor lamp and broke 2 panes of glass in the shade. He was trying to open the window to get out. I washed my hair and took a sponge bath. I put new foam pad on bed and clean sheets and cases. I’ve been busy all day to stay awake. Talked with Kay. Don’s all okay. Talked with Kathy VanT. Lyla at Cheryl’s, Jim called from work. Joe B cleaned up some of our brush.

Sunny, nice day. Linda was over before we went to church. She and Joe are going to Syracuse looking at a generator. The power will be down about 4 hours. We went to church. 32 out. Wayne said when he came after us that our power may be back on today. It is in today’s Times that Rev. Charles Stewart, 81 died yesterday. His wife Maxine, 66 died December 5th. They were Ethan’s parents. Jim, Sue, and Ashley here in PM. Rick came home early from Fort Drum to get generator going. Jim was over to Linda’s. She got her generator. $2000. Juanita called in PM from hospital. Don has been in there a week. The doctor says his legs are dead. He can’t use his arms.

Sunny all day. Very cold. 0° this morning. Appointment with Lawyer Gebo 10 AM. Samaritan Keep 1:00 PM. Vern came and took us. We gave Vern and Jim power of attorney for each of us. We both signed health agreement. Lawyer Gebo to take Power of attorney to County Clerk office on file. We dropped Merrill at day care and took application to Samaritan Keep for Merrill. Had tour of place. Very nice. Merrill got haircut at Genesis beauty shop for first time. $7.00 and $1 tip. We got Merrill a pair of Jobst support socks at Bolton’s Medical. Paid with doctor prescription. We went to hospital to see Don and Juanita. Don not active. Merrill got his glasses adjusted at Meads. We ate on way home at McDonald’s. Vi called tonight to say Bill died today, unexpectedly. Vi and Martha saw him yesterday and they said he was doing fine. Lyla called last night. She says water in village is turned off. Shirley L called.

Warmer. POWER!!!. TV local news says 98% have electricity back. We don’t have ours yet. Maybe today. We got our cable hooked up today. Linda changed our TV over. I paid taxes and Reader’s Digest Bills. I told Merrill about Bill this morning. It upset him a lot. I called Vi. Bill’s funeral is Friday at 1 PM at Theresa. She wants us to go to Martha’s after. Jim called. I called Insurance Company. Mr. Cline said to send him bill for wires to garage. Linda and Rick got us back on electric power about 5:45 PM. Great!!!! After 20 days without it. Jolie called in evening.

A great sunny day. Merrill went to day care. I rode out with him on the bus and spent the day at the hospital with Don and Juanita. Don about the same. Jim took me to hospital from Genesis in Police car. Came after me afterwards with his truck. I came home with Merrill on van. Vern called in evening. I wrote Vivian and Clark. Kathy Hicks here to clean. She got Merrill’s Aricept at Mikes. I cleaned refrigerator and got food back in freezer. Katie Couric of the Today Show husband Jay, 41 died of cancer.

A great sunny day. 30°. I got things picked up and put away. I washed white and dark clothes. Lyla called. She got her car repaired. She will take us to Bill’s funeral. Juanita called in evening. She may get Don into Genesis nursing home. Crystal and Jericho to see Don and Juanita. Jim came out in evening and plowed our driveway. Had to go right back for Explorer meeting.

Light snow, wet, cloudy day. Merrill very upset and confused about Bill’s death. Bill’s funeral 1 PM. We went with Lyla. We went to Martha and Jacks afterwards. Only a few there. Rev. Elaine went. We got official birth notice of Lydia Grace arrival in a cute clever card made by her Daddy with 3 cute pictures. It has her footprints and web site. Cute!

Sunny great day. 30° Merrill too upset to sleep so I didn’t get any either. I had to get out of bed at 4:45 to keep him in the house. He worked most of day chopping ice by garage. He finally got garage doors open. I don’t know how he does it. We didn’t get stuff to dump and we didn’t get to store. I made dump-it cake and a vanilla pudding. Got a cooked supper for first in weeks. Feel like living again. I don’t think my phone is working right.

A beautiful sunny day. 40°. We didn’t go to church. Merrill finally catching up on his sleep. So did I. Jolie came out in PM and took us over to store. She drove our car. Vern called in PM when we got back from store. Jolie got her tongue pierced. Jill’s got a tattoo on her big toe. Crazy girls.

A great day. Ground hog saw his shadow. Not that it makes a difference. Merrill went to day care. I called E.D. Young Inc. about repairing our wiring. Lyla called to ask if I needed to go to store. I called office of the aging about Heap application. She took information over the phone. I sent tax blank to Dick Delles, assessor for rebate. Jim and Sue and Ashley here in evening. I gave Jim my calculator I’ve had for years. They took all our garbage from the garage. Vi called in evening. She and Martha are doing fine. I called her in PM but she wasn’t home. They moved Don to Genesis from Samaritan today at 11 AM to room D-21.

Warmer today. Juanita called in morning. They moved Don to Genesis Health Care yesterday. Tina was here. She will be on vacation for two weeks. Merrill has slept a lot today.

Sunny but cold. Merrill went to day care. Lyla here in PM. I washed white clothes. 550 10th mountain soldiers leave for a month training in Panama.

Partly sunny. Still cold all day. Kathy here to clean. She does good job. Man here from E.D. Young Inc. to estimate wiring job. Got refund check from real estate taxes only $56.51.

Cold sunny. Merrill went to day care. Three times this week. He slept all night in bed in his PJ’s. First time in some time. I made out order for 15 talking books. In Nagano, Japan 18th Olympic Games open tonight. Jolie called. Zack graduates March 14 in Georgia if he passes training course. Jolie called in evening to say Zack has tendonitis in his heel and will be home Monday. He won’t be able to finish Ranger School.

Still cold but beautiful day. I washed clothes. I called Jim at noon. He will take me to eye doctor Tuesday. Merrill watered plants for me. We got nice letter from Clark and Vivian. We got a valentine and poem form Darcy and family. Two letters from Florida. Sent order for talking books. I wrote thank you notes to Boschocks and Beliles.

A great sunny day. Cool. We went to church. 41 out. Wayne and Alice came after us and brought us home. Alice’s first time back to church since this ice storm. Nancy came in and copied poem from Darcie for newsletter. Juanita called in PM. We talked for an hour or more. Brenda is still here from mountains. Bill came home for a couple of day.

Sunny and warmer. Merrill went to day care. He had a bad night. He didn’t get much sleep. I got up at 2 AM. He finally went to sleep about 4:45 AM and had to get up at 6:30 AM. I called eye doctor, Dr. LaPoint’s office, and Pharmhouse. I ordered a $20. Fruit basket from Ron’s for Rick, Linda, and Joe for tomorrow. Shirley L called to ask about Don’s. Bonnie called to say they are bringing Merrill home early. Jim called in evening.

Sunny and warmer. Great! Jim took us to Watertown in PM. Dr. Sanni 2:15 PM. I liked him. He is going to remove my cataracts and also do a glaucoma operation on both eyes on the same day. It was so late we didn’t have time to go see Don at Genesis. Got drugs at Pharmhouse. I have to call Vicky at eye center and let her know when in April I want operation. Jim went to bank for us and paid water bill. When we came home, we picked up nice fruit basket at Big M for Rick, Linda and Joe.

Nice day sunny. Merrill went to day care. Social worker 10:30-11:30 AM. Chad Dudley (Adams) here for an hour. Good visit. I went to Rebekah’s only 5 out. I called Dr. LaPoint’s office again. They didn’t call the drug store for my prescriptions yesterday. Got estimate from E Younge for wiring $338.00. I called June and Vern in evening to bring them up to day on things. I also called Jim. Got Joel’s address.

Cloudy raining. Kathy here to clean. She went to store for groceries for me. She is going on vacation for 2 weeks. I washed dark clothes. I finally got Joel’s birthday card off to him. Also sent order to E. Youngs to repair wires to garage. Merrill slept most of the day. Zack and Jolie called. They are coming for supper tomorrow.

Colder. Joel’s 22nd birthday. Happy Birthday Joel! In Iowa. (Friday the 13th). Merrill went to day care. Our power was off for over 1 ½ hours at bedtime last night. I washed white clothes. I made brownies. Zack, Jolie, and Shawn Michael here for supper. They didn’t stay too long as they were taking Shawn Michael to Lawlers.

A cold sunny day. I called Pauline R. She is having her cataracts removed before long when Donna and Howard get home from Florida. I called Elgin and Carmin in Canada. They are well and survived the ice storm. Their power off for 3 days.

0° cold sunny day. We went to church. Wayne came after us. I asked for prayer for Don in Genesis nursing home. A lazy day. No company. Merrill was outside for a couple hours. It’s the first he’s been outside in some time.

Sunny. President’s Day. Indian River School in session because of ice storm. Merrill went to day care. Merrill didn’t sleep at all last night. He tried all night to break the locks off the doors with a file. He has hid the file on me this morning. I got about an hours sleep. Lyla called. She is getting new brakes on her car. Jim, Sue, and Ashley here at suppertime. Jolie called in early evening. Margaret K called in evening. Good to talk with her.

Icy rain and freezing rain over night. Lots of accidents. 2 people killed. I sent for foil for Merrill’s shaver to Syracuse. $16.00. Sent Jill’s birthday card, letter. And $10.00. I called Jim to ask if he got my pills. He hasn’t yet. Nurse Torrie here to check Merrill. Tina on vacation. Office called about cleaner care giver to replace Kathy who is on vacation.

Raining in morning. Partly sunny later on. Merrill went to day care. He was up most of night. E.D. Young electrics put new wire from house to garage that fell in the ice storm. Will be good to have our yard light again. I got card, letter and check ready to send to Dan. I also have to send $3.20 for Merrill’s razor part to the Shaver’s World.

Raining 36° high. Barbara here to clean 12-2 PM. Kathy on vacation. Got call about doing Neilson TV survey. I refused for 4th or 5th time. Merrill hasn’t slept at all today. I sent Dan’s card. Also balance due on Merrill’s razor foil. Donald Windall Hanson 74, died tonight at 10 PM.